Maranatha Baptist Church
Salt and Light
  • Praise To The Lord The Almighty

      • Psalms 17:1-3ESV

      • Psalms 17:4-6ESV

      • Psalms 17:7-10ESV

      • Psalms 17:11-13ESV

      • Psalms 17:14-15ESV

  • Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!
  • Speak O Lord

      • Matthew 5:13-14ESV

      • Matthew 5:15-16ESV

  • While we technically, finished the beatitudes last week, we are still in the introduction of the Sermon on the Mount. Next week, we will finish the introduction And then from verse 21 on Jesus gets to the body of the sermon.
    This portion of the text is a follow up to the Beatitudes. Since all of these things from verses 3-12 are true of the disciple of Jesus Christ - therefore you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. That being said - the word therefore is not present. But this provides in part to be the application following the Beatitudes.
    Jesus in this follow up to the beatitudes uses two very big metaphors, from two very common concepts and uses them to explain to us about the function of the Christian in the world.
    He begins with salt. One of the most common ingredients in our cooking, but also a useful preservative. And then he uses light.
    However, before I get into salt and light as used by Matthew, I want to comment on how big of a theme light is in the New Testament.
    The Gospel of John takes the example of light to point us to Jesus.
    In the opening of John’s gospel, he first identifies Jesus as the Word, the logos. Which is this greek philosophical idea of order of all reality. That which holds everything together. John is opening his gospel, but asserting that Jesus is the reason for which everything exists and is held together. He then immediately after in verse 4, he states that in him, in Jesus, was the life, and the life was the light of men. Where the Word provides reason and order, the light provides guidance and illumination, or understanding.
    And one major reason why this is significant is that John opens his gospel, much like Genesis opens.
    In the beginning…
    And the first creative act that occurred is that God spoke and said “Let there be light” and there was light. John by adapting this same language - draws us back to creation - which he then asserts that through Jesus all things were made in him and through him. Asserting that Jesus, was not created, but has always been. He has no beginning or end.
    Now you might be wondering why I’m talking about the gospel of John when we are in the sermon on the Mount - and it is because of how big of a theme in scripture the concept of light is. And specifically, how light, one of the first things we experience as humans and benefit from each and every day, teaches us about Jesus, but also teaches us about the function of Christians in the world.
    In John 8:12, Jesus tells his disciples that:
    John 8:12 ESV
    12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
    Jesus himself is the light of the world. And if we remember that the beatitudes are about human flourishing - and if we take all of that together…
    Jesus, the eternal one in whom all things were created, is the reason for our existence and the light by which we live. The truest sense of living is a life that is lived to glorify him. So those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn their sin, those who are meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness -knowing that only he can satisfy, those who have received merciful and show it to others, those who have been given a new heart in Christ, those who have made peace with God - through Jesus, and make peace with others, those who will be persecuted for righteousness sake… are the salt of the earth - and the light of the world.
    Jesus himself is the light of the world, and us as disciples of Jesus are like “windows through which the divine light enters the world.” (Pennington)
    In short, in response to who Jesus is, what Jesus has done, and what he is doing in you reflect him by being salt and light.
    Now salt and light might seem like two very different things for Jesus to compare us to.
    Salt and light are both additives. You add salt to food so that it brings out flavor. You bring light to the darkness so that you can reveal what is obscured.
    Summary:
    Salt preserves what is good. Light exposes what is true.

    Salt of the Earth

    Matthew 5:13 ESV
    13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
    In 2026, it is generally not a good thing to be called salty. Often meaning something like bitter or resentful concerning minor inconveniences. Petty, passive aggressive. Grumpy.
    And unfortunately, some Christians have a reputation for being salty. This is the opposite of what Jesus means.
    If you are a Christian, and your general disposition in life is grumpy, petty, passive aggressive, and resentful - then I would encourage you to repent today. And instead put off being salty - and instead be salt.
    Salt of the Earth should also not be confused with salting the earth… where salt is spread over a portion of land to leave the land barren and prevent crops from growing. This is seen in Judges 9:45, where Abimelech captures Shechem, razes it and then salts the land. The reason that this detrimental to the soil is because of how water reacts to salt.
    Salt through osmosis, draws water out of the soil, thus prevent plants for receiving the appropriate water. This is also what happens with food - here it’s a feature.
    The same attribute about salt that damages soil and crops that leads to what Jesus is actually teaching.
    Salt is used as a preservative because the salt draws moisture out of the food - and specifically away from bacteria and mold cells - and into to salt. This prevents bacteria and mold from growing.
    It is this quality in salt that provides the reason for why a salt brine on a nice steak applied ahead of time - helps to create a nice crust on the outside of a steak.
    When Jesus is here telling his disciples that they are the salt of the earth he is telling them that they are to be a preservative.
    Salt in this era, and still very much today, was used to preserve food.
    The Christian who is seeking to be a preservative on the earth is one who will seek to preserve the world from unrighteousness.
    Just as salt prevents bacteria and mold from growing on food, so should the church keep corruption at bay in the world. We do this by preaching the gospel, by living in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ - repenting of our sins - turning from the actions and habits that we committed before coming to faith in Christ - and instead living in the righteous that he would call us to.
    A practical example of how the existence of the Christian has served as a preserving agent is through the example of something I heard Richard Dawkins say a while back.
    Richard Dawkins, a evolutionary biologist - a well known atheist and opponent of Christianity has stated that he is a cultural Christian. He does not believe a word of Christian doctrine, he does not believe in the resurrection, or the divine. However, he enjoys Christmas carols, hymns, and the general Christian moral ethic that he learned growing up Anglican.
    He has stated that he wishes to keep historic churches and parishes, even stating that he would be sad if they were lost.
    He has further stated that he would choose Christianity over Islam every time.
    This response was stated by Dawkins because of the sight of ramadan decorations instead of easter decorations around Easter.
    His reason for these is because of how Christianity is a preserving religion. Christianity preserves that which is truly good.
    The preserving aspect of Christianity is one that seeks to encourage human flourishing. That blessedness that Jesus spoke of previously.
    Now Dawkins response is not the desired outcome of the preserving aspect of the Christian. The desired outcome is what we see in verse 16 - to give glory to God.
    We need to be cautious that we do not confuse the positive influence of Christians in the world for evangelism. Voting in line with the true convictions of Scripture should improve the world around us. Building strong institutions, preserving strong families, creating excellent art,
    This is a big reason why many of colleges and hospitals started as Christian.
    For Christians to be preservatives in the world around us means that we should seek to leave the world a better place than we found it.
    However, an improved world is not necessarily a saved world.
    Preserving society means to point out unrighteousness and prevent it from spreading.
    Jesus in the second part of that verse - provides a hypothetical. He states that if salt looses its saltiness - then it is useless. But salt does not lose its saltiness… Jesus knew this. He created it.
    Thus the foolish idea of salt losing, its essential character, should seem as absurd as the church, and her members, losing their preserving nature in the world.
    When the church is no longer a preserving agent in the world, but looks just like the world. Then it is like useless salt. And in fact, when the church stops being a preserving agent - it stops being Christian. This is because both salt and light are a result of what Christ has done in us.
    Salt preserves what is good in the world.
    Where salt preserves, light does something slightly different.
    Light exposes.

    Light of the World

    Matthew 5:14–16 ESV
    14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
    Have you ever turned on a light on in a dark room, or shined a flashlight down a dark corridor or hall and thought “I didn’t realize how dark it was until there was light.” That is the role of the church in the world - to be a light in the dark so that it exposes the darkness. Specifically, to expose sin.
    We cannot expose sin, if we do not identify it as sin. The church cannot be afraid of the dark. We must expose the dark and bring light into the darkest places.
    We do this by being willing to call out sin. This means we need to be bold to call others to repentance. We must be bold to tell people that what they are doing is an affront towards God.
    How do we expose sin? By proclaiming the word of God. Preaching the word in season and out of season.
    However, this is not popular. We should also be reminded that darkness hates the light - and will regularly attempt to obscure the light.
    The presence of light reveals how dark it is.
    John 3:19 ESV
    19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
    But even so, we can rejoice in knowing that the darkness hated the Light and tried to put him to death - but the darkness could not overcome him.
    John 1:5 ESV
    5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
    So even though the darkness will hate when we expose that it is dark… we can rejoice in knowing that it hated Jesus first, but he has overcome the world.
    Witnessing… shining the light
    A City on a Hill… I want to make a simple connection for you…our church is on a hill. You probably know this but probably don’t think of that much. But when you drive up to church, or when you leave - consider that reminder as our church is on a hill - so are we called to be a city on a hill.
    In both of this comparisons Jesus is demonstrating that our light ought to shine. As a city that is place above the others can be seen, and thus serves as an example. So the same for the lamp that is placed upon a stand. You don’t turn the lamp on in your home only to cover it. Nor do you light a candle just to place it under a basket.
    When you place a lamp in your home - you place it somewhere that the light will illuminate the whole home.
    Is this how you think of your own light? Your own righteousness?
    Jesus will later give guidance concerning how righteousness should be shown before others. If the goal of letting your righteousness be seen before men is that they glorify you - then you are outside of what Jesus is instructing. The goal of our salt and light is not to bring attention, or celebration to ourselves, but rather to bring glory to God.
    Jesus is telling people that you do not need to hide the results of your sanctification before the world - but let them shine like light in the darkness.
    “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
    Being salt and light is not merely just about being a “good person” but rather being salt and light to the world around us is about demonstrating that in Christ we have received a new heart, a new life, and a new nature. Through the true of the beatitudes
    Jesus does not command Christians to try to be salt and light, and this isn’t a command for Christians to be salt and light - but stating that Christians are indeed this. Remember that the beatitudes were not a checklist - but rather a list of characteristics that are true of someone who is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
    In the same way, salt and light are not giving you aspirations - but rather communicating who you are, and how the Christian ought to act in the world around them.
    The temptation for many Christians might be exactly what Jesus warns against. You might desire to hide. You are the light of the world - but instead of letting the light of Christ shine through you, you hide.
    It’s really easy to do this around friends or family. We don’t want to make them uncomfortable, or we don’t want to ruin the relationship so we wont witness around. Do not cover up your light.
    Is the promise of the gospel not more important than a comfortable relationship.
    If you truly believe that gospel message - that we are sinners who are separated from a righteous and holy God, and that all of us are dead in our trespasses and sins outside of Christ - and our only hope for salvation is through belief in Jesus, his death and resurrection - then it is worth ruining a relationship or making things uncomfortable - to give your loved ones an eternal hope in a living Christ.
    That is how you can be salt and light to your loved ones.
    Do not cover up your light by ignoring the dark and pretending it isn’t there. Do not ignore your calling as a Christian to put your sin to death - by acting like the world when around the world.
    Glow in the dark toys need light to work…
    Salt preserves what is good. Light exposes what is true.
    The ultimate goal of the Christian shining their light is never to bring glory to themselves. If we are poor in spirit, meek, and pure in heart - then our desires are not to elevate ourselves. So the goal does not become look at me… but rather the goal of each and every Christian should be that when others see our light - we don’t look to ourselves but we point to the Lord Jesus.
    The goal of the Christian faith is not “look at me and see how much I am like Jesus.” But instead it is that when someone sees the good deeds that we do - it is not to point them to ourselves and how great we are - but instead that our good deeds would bring glory to our God in heaven.
    The reason for which we were created is to bring glory to God. And Jesus is further rooting that to our responsibility as Christians. Our goal is to glorify God, but also to be preserve good, and to expose darkness, with the ultimate goal that when other see our good deeds - they see our righteousness and respond by glorifying God.

      • John 8:12ESV

      • Matthew 5:13ESV

      • Matthew 5:14–16ESV

      • John 3:19ESV

      • John 1:5ESV

  • To God Be The Glory

      • Matthew 5:13–16ESV

Maranatha Baptist Church
info@mbcglobe.org
http://www.mbcglobe.org
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